Chicago's Northwest Side is on edge after two women were robbed at gunpoint by a masked attacker who followed them into residential entryways, prompting a police alert and an active hunt for the suspect.
Police say the back-to-back armed robberies happened Sunday, Dec. 28, and targeted women who were trailed into a garage or vestibule before being forced to hand over phones, credit cards, and cash. Officers later found a blue 2000 Ford Taurus that investigators believe is tied to the incidents, but no arrests have been announced as detectives review surveillance footage and interview witnesses.
According to CBS Chicago, the robberies were reported in the 8100 block of West Addison Street and the 3200 block of North Newland Avenue. In both cases, the attacker was described as wearing a mask and dark clothing and was accused of following the women, forcing them into a garage or vestibule, and then robbing them of phones, credit cards, and cash. The outlet reports that officers recovered a blue 2000 Ford Taurus in connection with the cases and that detectives have made no arrests so far.
Police See Possible Pattern
These latest incidents fit a pattern that Chicago police have been warning about in recent months, where small crews hit multiple neighborhoods in quick bursts, often using dark sedans or SUVs as getaway cars and then vanishing before officers arrive. As WTTW reported, detectives have increasingly turned to community security video and license-plate information to track these groups, saying that clear footage and plate numbers can make or break a case.
How To Report Tips
Anyone with information about the Dec. 28 robberies is urged to contact Area Five detectives. Local reporting lists that unit's tip line as 312-746-7394. CWBChicago notes that detectives typically look for precise vehicle descriptions, license-plate numbers, and any saved doorbell or cellphone video that might show the suspect or the car.
Police have not publicly identified any suspects, and the investigation remains active, CBS Chicago reports. Neighbors who spot suspicious people or vehicles are being asked to call 911 right away and to follow up with Area Five detectives if they have any tips that could help close the case.
